page_title: Emirate of Abu Dhabi
section_title: Geography
hierarchical_section_title: Emirate of Abu Dhabi / Geography
caption_attribution_description: English: View of a palm grove in Abu Dhabi desert
context_page_description: The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is one of seven emirates that constitute the United Arab Emirates. It is the largest emirate by area, accounting for approximately 87 percent of the total land area of the federation. Abu Dhabi also has the second largest population of the seven emirates. In June 2011, it was estimated to be 2,120,700 people, of which, 439,100 people were Emirati citizens. The city of Abu Dhabi, after which the emirate is named, is both the capital of the emirate and federation.
  In the early 1970s, two important developments influenced the status of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The first was the establishment of the United Arab Emirates in December 1971, with Abu Dhabi as its political and administrative capital. The second was the sharp increase in oil prices following the October 1973 War, which accompanied a change in the relationship between the oil countries and foreign oil companies, leading to a dramatic rise in oil revenues. Abu Dhabi's Gross Domestic Product estimates, in 2014, amounted to AED 960 billion at current prices. Mining and quarrying accounts for the largest contribution to GDP. Construction related industries are the next largest contributor.
context_section_description: The United Arab Emirates is located in the oil-rich and strategic Arabian or Persian Gulf region. It adjoins the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman.
  Abu Dhabi is located in the far west and southwest part of the United Arab Emirates along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf between latitudes 22°40' and around 25° north and longitudes 51° and around 56° east. It borders the emirate of Dubai and emirate of Sharjah to its north.
  The total area of the Emirate is 67,340 square kilometres (26,000 square miles), occupying about 87% of the total area of the UAE, excluding islands. The territorial waters of the Emirate embrace about 200 islands off its 700 km (430 mi) coastline. The topography of the Emirate is dominated by low-lying sandy terrain dotted with sand dunes exceeding 300 m (980 ft) in height in some areas southwards. The eastern part of the Emirate borders the western fringes of the Hajar Mountains. Hafeet Mountain, Abu Dhabi's highest elevation and sole mountain, rising 1,100–1,400 m (3,600–4,600 ft), is located south of Al-Ain City.
  Land cultivation and irrigation for agriculture and forestation over the past decade has increased the size of "green" areas in the emirate to about 5% of the total land area, including parks and roadside plantations. About 1.2% of the total land area is used for agriculture. A small part of the land area is covered by mountains, containing several caves. The coastal area contains pockets of wetland and mangrove colonies. Abu Dhabi also has dozens of islands, mostly small and uninhabited, some of which have been designated as sanctuaries for wildlife.
caption: A date palm grove in the desert north of Liwa Oasis in the Western Region, roughly in the area of Ar-Rub' Al-Khali (The Empty Quarter), which covers much of the emirate
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